“Have people been commoditized? Of course not. But the ways people’s knowledge, skills and expertise get plugged into the workplace has been.”
Prepare for the New Permanent Temp (HBR)
to “facilitate faster, cheaper and easier contingent participation.”
“It’s analogous to the demographic rise in cohabitation before marriage: the nature and expectations around formal commitment are being redefined. Just as cohabitation doesn’t necessarily lead to marriage, temporary and contingent employment doesn’t necessarily lead to full-time jobs.
The most serious question going forward is not simply whether or how more full time jobs return, it’s whether or how part-time and temporary workers become more valuable. Will employers invest in developing the knowledge, human capital and capabilities of their contingent workforces and independent contractors? Or is the new ‘permanent temporary’ merely about a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay?”